A
warm welcome to American
Distance Counseling Association (ADCA), the
professional organization founded to promote safety and confidence in
counseling treatment on the internet and through phone services. ADCA Members
are licensed mental health and educational specialists who offer support and
counseling via connections through the internet, office-based practices, and/or
the use of telephone services.

As Distance Counselors we have the ability to impact lives on a
broader scale. Today, consumers are utilizing and integrating the internet
for educational needs, medical information, and rapid help from experts in all
areas of individual and family life. Distance Counselors are addressing
needs which have been consumer driven, to expand the type of help that has been
traditionally offered. For over a decade counseling has been offered
through email, chat and telephone services to those consumers who prefer and
demand that they have more choices and more options.

If you are a
Licensed Counselor, providing services via internet, you are invited to
apply and join with others who are facing the same challenges online. A
few
licensed distance counselors have been involved with eTherapy services for the
past 10-12 years. Many others may have had 3-5 years experience.
Every week more professionals are expanding their practices with online services
and similar to any other solo practice, it is important to network with others and share
resources.

ADCA is here for the professional by providing an
organization structure for distance counselors to network, and a private forum
for interaction with other distance counselors. ADCA is also here for
consumers, to locate safe online treatment through member referral services,
articles, and resources.

Distance counseling is the practice of seeking and receiving help
through the internet. Other terms used for distance counseling are tele-health
and online counseling and online therapy. It is also referred to as eTherapy,
a termed coined by and attributed to Dr. John Grohol.

The American Counseling
Association, ISMHO International Society for Mental Health Online, APA
American Psychological Association, AAMFT American Association for Marriage
and Family Therapy, and other organizations have developed best ethics
practices for distance counselors.

Distance counselors have
provided help for issues related to relationships, suicide prevention,
depression, divorce, anxiety, employment and education for more than a decade,
with few problems and high acceptance by both consumers and counselors.